Description:
MEPS collects information about a select group of medical conditions that have been specified by the Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality as "priority conditions." These conditions, selected for their prevalence, expense, or relevance to policy, are: hypertension, heart disease, stroke, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, asthma, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD), and high cholesterol. High cholesterol information is collected by inquiring about the last time the respondent's cholesterol level was checked and if a medical professional recommended lowering the cholesterol or fat in the respondent's diet. High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) is also identified by the condition code associated with medical events reported during a reference period. In addition to the tables below, person-level data files with high cholesterol variables can be downloaded for analysis.